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The face is obscure and grim, but the blonde comb-over and tie leave no doubt that the image carpeting the studio of Israeli painter Iddo Markus is that of Donald Trump.
"Let's start by saying that I don't like him," the voluble artist stressed.
<p>Markus, with his short beard and piercing black eyes, said he was nonetheless fascinated by the now "tragic figure".</p><p>The walls and floor of his studio in the northern port city of Haifa are packed with portraits of the former American president.</p><p>When the billionaire presented his candidacy for the 2016 presidential election, the Israeli artist said he "couldn't believe it".</p><p>Then, when Trump was eventually elected, he said he was terrified, even "repulsed" by the Republican's "way of treating people and minorities".</p><p>But he could not tear his eyes from the man with the "orange face and yellow hair", whose image and laconic prose inundated television networks and social media for more than four years.</p><p>His first painting of Trump, done hastily, was followed by around 120 more oil-colour works on canvas and wood.</p><p>They depict a man with a distorted face, but whose silhouette is immediately recognisable.</p><p>- 'Tragic' muse -</p><p>"The first paintings were much more colourful and faster," said Markus, who went to art school in both his native US and current home Israel.</p><p>But he said the figure took on a more "pathetic" air after Trump's supporters ransacked the US Capitol earlier this month, and after his electoral defeat to Democrat Joe Biden.</p><p>"Now I feel he's like a tragic figure," Markus said. "He became a complex person, instead of an image, instead of an icon."</p><p>"The way he holds himself was different after he lost," he added, saying this conveyed "that he is a human being and he understands something has changed".</p><p>"Before that, I really felt he thought he was god."</p><p>Markus has dubbed the portrait series "The Apprentice", after the reality TV show that contributed to Trump's popularity.</p><p>He said one of the works had been acquired by an American who wanted a reminder of "how low" US politics could go.</p><p>In his cluttered studio, the walls covered with sketches, cut-out photos and smears of paint, Markus readily admitted his fixation wasn't unique to Trump.</p><p>"I'm obsessed with everything I do," he said.</p><p>Repetition is a part of his practice -- for one series, he created around 1,000 works based on a childhood picture of his wife, painting them on small wooden squares or even huge canvases over a period of five years.</p><p>"I'm not a person who needs a drama to paint," Markus said. "I don't need war, love... I need a journey."</p><p>And painting Trump "was an interesting journey".</p><p>© 2021 AFP</p>
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Palm Beach County rejects Donald Trump's dream of having an airport named after him
January 23, 2021
Former President Donald Trump has long dreamed of having his name attached to one of the United States' most prominent international airports. His suggestion: Trump International.
However, Palm Beach County has confirmed that the former president's dream will not be coming to fruition at its airport.
<p>According to the Sun-Sentinel, the idea of renaming the airport in honor of Trump was recently touted by Christian Ziegler, who serves as a Sarasota County commissioner and the vice-chairman of the Florida Republican Party. However, County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay has made it clear that she does not support the idea. </p><p>During a brief discussion with the publication, McKinlay explained why she, along with five other county commissioners, are not in agreement with the prospect of the airport being renamed after the twice-impeached, one-term president.</p><p>"When people hear [Palm Beach], they envision our beaches, our equestrian sports, and in some cases our agricultural contributions," McKinlay said. "It is a lifestyle." </p><p>McKinlay also noted that she believes the name Trump International is a name "better-suited for his golf courses, not our airport" as she suggested that Ziegler "stick to renaming his own county facilities, not ours."</p><p> The publication notes that Palm Beach County's swift rejection of the idea could be a foreboding of the difficulties Trump could face attempting to have his name displayed on buildings, schools, street signs, and highways in the Southern region of Florida, which is predominantly Democratic-leaning. </p><p>While many past presidents have had the honor of their names being attached to buildings, airports, schools, and roads, Robert Watson, a presidential historian and Lynn University professor, explained why Trump will likely face difficulties in his pursuit to be remembered in the same light as his predecessors. According to Watson, Trump's heightened attachment to controversy may be a major obstacle for this type of aspiration.</p><p>"I imagine in a couple of years when there's talk about renaming [things] for him — Trump could be the outlier, the anomaly, "Watson said. "He was so controversial. He generates such controversy that it's hard to imagine anyone wanting to touch it."</p>
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Talk show host and occasional pal of Donald Trump, Piers Morgan stepped in it once again on Saturday morning after posting a tone-deaf tribute to the late Larry King -- who passed away this morning -- and managed to make it all about himself.
Morgan, who once hosted a show on CNN, noted the passing of the beloved King and wrote, "Larry King was a hero of mine until we fell out after I replaced him at CNN & he said my show was 'like watching your mother-in-law go over a cliff in your new Bentley.' (He married 8 times so a mother-in-law expert) But he was a brilliant broadcaster & masterful TV interviewer."
Critics of Morgan, of whom there are many, immediately noted he made it about himself ("until we fell out after I replaced him at CNN") and proceeded to let him have it on Twitter.
As you can see below:
<div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3fb7f6bfa091eea7e791530a4e6cea41" id="e8b2e"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1352970731278233600"><div style="margin:1em 0">@piersmorgan Piers: “let me make a current event all about me. this is also a good time to get one last shot in o… https://t.co/zRfgSO3Iy4</div> — the ghost of don lewis (@the ghost of don lewis)<a href="https://twitter.com/tigerfood45/statuses/1352970731278233600">1611408333.0</a></blockquote></div><p><br/></p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="06dd879235f57329e9b136243ae47b7b" id="c1116"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1353012334780936192"><div style="margin:1em 0">@piersmorgan CNN fired you precisely because he was right 🤣 🤣 🤣</div> — Khaya Sithole (@Khaya Sithole)<a href="https://twitter.com/CoruscaKhaya/statuses/1353012334780936192">1611418253.0</a></blockquote></div><p><br/></p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="bca5a295847bcc2bf1bfaa5ae7d985a4" id="e793e"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1353017312299819009"><div style="margin:1em 0">@TheValuesVoter @piersmorgan I think it was meant to be a funny anecdote with a compliment, but as always, it’s jus… https://t.co/c9Ra9qDxDK</div> — Lurk3r (@Lurk3r)<a href="https://twitter.com/ElLurk3r/statuses/1353017312299819009">1611419439.0</a></blockquote></div><p><br/></p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5669ae9b12e6ef286db2d6336bfbe4b7" id="6d084"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1353014471988449282"><div style="margin:1em 0">well we all know piers morgan is a piece of shit but this is just beyond https://t.co/LyVz4Ou8h7</div> — Sarah Jeffery (@Sarah Jeffery)<a href="https://twitter.com/sarahjeffery/statuses/1353014471988449282">1611418762.0</a></blockquote></div><p><br/></p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="17ed05ac824d1568a654c0eb036af728" id="0e23f"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1352988973078089730"><div style="margin:1em 0">Piers Morgan reminding us that Larry King was correct. And confirming that Piers Morgan is a deeply insecure man. https://t.co/mCSbJ3z454</div> — (((Howard Forman))) (@(((Howard Forman))))<a href="https://twitter.com/thehowie/statuses/1352988973078089730">1611412683.0</a></blockquote></div><p><br/></p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="b543ac5d9716c85edc6c0c01589e2af8" id="9059a"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1352970091575521281"><div style="margin:1em 0">@piersmorgan Not surprised he fell out with you, look at you trying to grab 5 minutes of fame through past associat… https://t.co/AECbkQTyk8</div> — Maggie Dee (@Maggie Dee)<a href="https://twitter.com/Maggiedeephoto/statuses/1352970091575521281">1611408181.0</a></blockquote></div><p><br/></p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c4315f8b87b5027af6d74a633dddcbfe" id="048a3"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1352986601043894272"><div style="margin:1em 0">@piersmorgan You should have just tweeted "Me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me,… https://t.co/iDn6NNHW5V</div> — CJJones_WtoW (@CJJones_WtoW)<a href="https://twitter.com/CJJones_WtoW/statuses/1352986601043894272">1611412117.0</a></blockquote></div><p><br/></p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="37e779555b449c3ce5e1bc73fc173f71" id="7f23c"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1353014079254900736"><div style="margin:1em 0">@piersmorgan You have a way with words
A terrible way that’s incredibly off putting
But certainly a way</div> — good reader, good tweeter (@good reader, good tweeter)<a href="https://twitter.com/jesseltaylor/statuses/1353014079254900736">1611418668.0</a></blockquote></div><p><br/></p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="69c9906751f5c8f28a6af73f0daf27eb" id="4ba0f"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1352982457553977344"><div style="margin:1em 0">This is like when Mitch Albom eulogized his friend Warren Zevon by telling stories about...himself. https://t.co/NrcMqUtwWP</div> — Nancy Nall Derringer (@Nancy Nall Derringer)<a href="https://twitter.com/nnall/statuses/1352982457553977344">1611411129.0</a></blockquote></div><p><br/></p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ae581965d1a4c43e6694a31800ea3c38" id="19dc6"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1353007423842365440"><div style="margin:1em 0">@piersmorgan How very Trumpy to make your "condolences" all about you. https://t.co/4rdcrxrY1o</div> — Glomad 🌊🌈◼🕶🍷🌊😷 (@Glomad 🌊🌈◼🕶🍷🌊😷)<a href="https://twitter.com/glomad128/statuses/1353007423842365440">1611417082.0</a></blockquote></div><p><br/></p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="98156f0749e60f30db6209145452cccd" id="4fe45"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1353009016402751488"><div style="margin:1em 0">@piersmorgan man, have some more respect when someone dies, not everything is about you</div> — Timothy Sykes (@Timothy Sykes)<a href="https://twitter.com/timothysykes/statuses/1353009016402751488">1611417461.0</a></blockquote></div><p><br/></p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="936ebd54a66f54d8802a09b0e8172c61" id="24dd7"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1352996342445060097"><div style="margin:1em 0">@DJNYC1 Who does that on the day someone died???</div> — Robbin Simmons (@Robbin Simmons)<a href="https://twitter.com/RobbinSimmons7/statuses/1352996342445060097">1611414440.0</a></blockquote></div><p><br/></p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="218c9b21b98d01eaaa96a583d0bac55b" id="e4a17"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1353020437819752448"><div style="margin:1em 0">@SteveHofstetter @piersmorgan 💯</div> — FrankyR (@FrankyR)<a href="https://twitter.com/frankyremtlaaat/statuses/1353020437819752448">1611420184.0</a></blockquote></div>
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